Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-01-15

home method has been abandoned. For 1t
there ha, been substituted what may be
called the apprentice plan, for lack of a
better term. Juvenile offenders gathered
by the State are not herded together, but
divided into small groups. Each of these
are put into sort of cottage home at the
central station, where the best substitute
for parental control and discipline is EN-
ployed. Just as soon as the taste, DISPOSE
ton and "natural bent" and capacity of
the child can be fairly determined, he is
taken by the States agent, who must be
possessed of the broadcast humane instincts,
and have all the qualities that distinguish
the kindly, firm and fatherly disciplinarian
and placed in a home, to be taught
some useful industry Here he is removed
from all old associations, inspired with new
hopes, and encouraged to new endeavor.
The State through its agent keeps an eye
upon him and visits him; he is CORE
sponded with, required to report regularly
and frequently to the agent, and is made
fully aware that retrogression or rebellion
means loss of the opportunity afforded
him, severe punishment and possible con-
fnement In a prison for offenders. Ex-
perience has proved that 90 per cent. of
boys thus treated turn out well, grow up
to good citizenship, and are utterly free
from the brand of the so-called In
dustrial School," Where lads prove
incorrigible, cannot be trusted to
be sent away, or encouraged In
self-helpfulness, they are returned to, or
originally kept in an industrial central
semi-prison, and the best made Of them
there that is possible. Above all the gross
error of the San Francisco Indus
trial School is avoided, the putting to-
gether of all classes, tn throwing into one
human herd of known thieves by
heredity and mere unfortunate lads !;
hardened offenders and the youth whose
misfortune has been the home of intem-
perance and misrule; the human gutter
rat, and the boy who has done single
wrong; tyres in crime, and the naturally
vicious /; the timid and those in whom the
animal predominates, and so on.
Perhaps the very safest and best plan
upon which any legislation could proceed
in California at present, would be the pro-
viding of the means in the first place, and
in the second place investment of proper
commission Of men and women with ample
power to establish and enforce such sys-
TEN as their careful examination of all ex-
periences may deem best. If such dele
cation of authority can possibly be made
under the Constitution, it would be wiser
far than to attempt by first legislation to
make out method of procedure for the
prevention of crime in, and the reclama-
ton of criminally inclined and apparently
unmanageable boys.
However viewed there is one thing all
must agree is settled; that it is the very
best economy on the part of the State to
prevent crime by reforming youths, who,
without care and restraint, will certainly
become criminal charges upon the State.
In other words, it is easier and cheaper to
make good citizen ont of boy at the
plastic age when his character may be
nodded for life, than to attempt to check
crime by Furnishing the mature criminal.